Ava Yaskiel practises corporate and securities law. She focuses on mergers and acquisitions, related party transactions, corporate governance issues, corporate finance and advisory mandates for both issuers and investment bankers.
Within mergers and acquisitions, Ms. Yaskiel advises issuers on both the buy-side and sell-side. Her experience incorporates both domestic and cross-border issues in take-over bids and structured transactions such as mergers and plans of arrangement. Within corporate finance, she participates in a variety of transactions for both underwriters and issuers, including private placements, IPOs and ongoing capital funding. Ms. Yaskiel's corporate governance experience encompasses advising issuers and boards on governance matters and acting for special and independent committees in acquisition, change of control and related party transactions.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Yaskiel spent over five years with the Ontario Securities Commission, holding a variety of positions including Senior Legal Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, related party transactions and related policy matters.
Ms. Yaskiel is a frequent speaker at securities law related conferences. She is a past member of the Securities Advisory Committee to the Ontario Securities Commission.
Ms. Yaskiel is a member of Norton Rose Group's supervisory board. She previously held the position of Co-Managing Partner of our Toronto office.
Selected client work
Ms. Yaskiel has acted recently for the following clients:
ˇ The Special Committee of CanWest Global Communications Corp. in relation to its restructuring
ˇ Warner Chilcott plc (as Canadian counsel) in its acquisition and financing of Procter & Gamble's worldwide pharmaceuticals business for US$3.1 billion
ˇ Alcan Inc. (as the leader of one of two negotiating teams) in its sale to Rio Tinto plc, the largest takeover bid in Canadian history
ˇ Isadore Sharp, the controlling shareholder, leading negotiations for the sale/privatization of Four Seasons Inc.
ˇ Cerberus LLP in the auction for BCE Inc.
ˇ Bowater Incorporated in its merger with Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.
ˇ A potential purchaser in an auction for Van Houtte Inc.
ˇ Wajax Inc. in its conversion to Wajax Income Fund and in the related IPO
ˇ The underwriters in the Sir Royalty Income Fund IPO
ˇ Bergson Holdings NV (as Canadian counsel) in its takeover bid for Hunter Douglas NV
Rankings and recognitions
ˇ 2011 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award Winner (KPMG Professionals Award)
ˇ 2011 International Law Office Client Choice Award in the General Corporate category for Canada (view Ava's profile and the full list of 2011 winners)
ˇ Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2011: Corporate Law/Mergers and Acquisitions
Memberships and activities
ˇ Institute of Corporate Directors - ICD.D
Related Publications
To whom are directors' fiduciary duties owed?
In December 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in BCE Inc. v. 1976 Debentureholders relating to the proposed privatization of BCE, clearly one of the most highly-anticipated and scrutinized corporate law decisions in Canada in many years.
19/06/2009
Related News
Ava Yaskiel named one of Canada's Most Powerful Women for 2011
Norton Rose OR congratulates Ava Yaskiel, partner in our Toronto office, for receiving a prestigious 2011 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100TM Award in the KPMG Professionals category.
01/12/2011
Ogilvy Renault lead sponsor in G(irls)20 Summit: a 3.3 billion deal
A global campaign is underway to empower girls and women. Ogilvy Renault is proud to be supporting this movement through an exciting initiative led by The Belinda Stronach Foundation, the Second Annual G(irls)20 Summit 2011.
17/03/2011
Ava Yaskiel honoured with International Law Office Client Choice award
Ogilvy Renault is pleased to announce that Ava Yaskiel has been honoured with the 2011 International Law Office Client Choice Award in the General Corporate category for Canada.
03/03/2011
Art of no deal: defeating hostile take-overs
Ava Yaskiel talks to Lexpert about the trend of Canadian companies saying no to a deal.
14/09/2009
More Carrot Than Stick
In the Globe and Mail, Ava Yaskiel provides tips for boards of directors that find out they're facing a potential shareholder proposal on their proxy circular.
11/03/2010